THIRTY-FOURTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-FOURTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION



CLIMATE AND ENERGY FINANCE AND POLICY MINUTES

Representative Patty Acomb, Chair of the Committee on Climate and Energy Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM on March 20, 2024, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
ACOMB, Patty, Chair
KRAFT, Larry, Vice Chair
SWEDZINSKI, Chris, Republican Lead
ALTENDORF, Pam
BIERMAN, Robert
CARROLL, Ned
DAVIS, Ben
GAROFALO, Pat
HEMMINGSEN-JAEGER, Amanda
HOLLINS, Athena
HORNSTEIN, Frank
IGO, Spencer
MEKELAND, Shane
RARICK, Marion
NEWTON, Jerry
STEPHENSON, Zack

Members excused:
REHM, Lucy

A quorum was present.

Representative Kraft moved that the minutes from March 19, 2024 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 4700 (Long) – Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act established, certificates of need governing provisions modified, conforming and technical changes made, and administrative rulemaking authorized.

Chair Acomb moved that HF 4700 be laid over for possible conclusion.

Chair Acomb moved the DE5 amendment to HF 4700. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Long presented HF 4700 as amended.

Testifying:
• Will Seuffert, Executive Director, Public Utilities Commission
• Grace Arnold, Commissioner, Department of Commerce
• Allen Gleckner, Fresh Energy
• Madelyn Smerillo, Clean Grid Alliance
• Aurora Vautrin, 100% Campaign
• Deb Birgen, Missouri River Energy Services
• David Moeller, Senior Regulatory Counsel, ALLETE/MN Power
• Amelia Vohs, Climate Director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
• Dan Lesher, Transmission Permitting and Land Rights, Great River Energy
• Matt Langan, Permitting Manager, Xcel Energy
• Louise Miltich, Assistant Commissioner of Regulatory Analysis, Minnesota Department of Commerce

Chair Acomb renewed her motion that HF 4700 as amended be laid over for possible inclusion.

HF 4700 as amended was laid over.

HF 4423 (Stephenson) – Pilot thermal energy network projects provided and governed, administrative rulemaking authorized, and report required.

Representative Stephenson moved that HF 4423 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Stephenson moved the DE1 amendment to HF 4423. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Stephenson presented HF 4423 as amended.

Testifying:
• Aurora Vautrin, 100% Campaign
• Patty O’Keefe, Sierra Club
• Jamie Fitzke, CenterPoint
• Mike Rollin, ISAIAH
• Amy Gilbert, Saint Paul 350

Representative Stephenson renewed his motion that HF 4423 as amended be laid over for possible inclusion.

HF 4423 as amended was laid over.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:24 PM.

_______________________________________________
Representative Patty Acomb, Chair


_______________________________________________
Robin Mercer-Taylor, Committee Legislative Assistant